Monday Morning Mumbling 3.4.19
First, a little blog housekeeping. Monday posts will still go up under the MMM banner and tag. Additionally, there will now be a category identifying posts like this as “inspiration;” posts with useful tips and facts will be categorized as “Information.” However, for ease of searching for past wisdom or inspiration within the MMM posts (assuming there is any in there), the titles will not be so formulaic. Fear not; the mumbling will remain as rambling as ever.
With that, it is said that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. Here’s the quote – it’s a doozy this week:
The Quote:
The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.
— George Washington, September 19, 1796
It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.
Smart guy.
In his farewell address, among other things, Washington warned against political parties, and especially the two-party system. Seems like there are some things to be taken away from that address that could be useful to us today. Perhaps more people should take off their red-team or blue-team jerseys and just think about what the right thing to do is.
In a more personal context, or in the community association context, this can be true as well. So often we see owners complain about the board on a single issue. They draw a line in the sand and place the board on one side and themselves on the other. Similarly, boards can frequently develop this bunker mentality, identifying “factions” of the ownership as antagonistic. In both situations, the groups choose up sides and go to battle. Guess who loses? Everyone.
Instead, boards, owners, and support professionals should be looking for common ground. Start with what everyone agrees on: the strengths and assets of the community, ways to improve things, or even something as simple as a common external enemy (such as a neighboring development) to unify everyone.
Once they have some framework and are working for the best interests of the whole community, then you can tackle the place where there is disagreement. Instead of shouting at each other, they can try to use good strategies to address the issue in the best possible fashion for the association. At the very least, you avoid creating two antagonistic factions who waste association time and resources fighting with one another (because who wants that for their leadership?), and instead have one unified association working to improve the community.
Have a great week everybody.